Seat belt buckle guard

Abstract

A seat belt buckle release guard apparatus has a box like device including first and second portions having recessed opposing ends and sides that are shelf hinged on one side, and bear a latch on a side opposing the hinged side. When the first and second portions are closed, opposing end apertures are formed for receiving a seat belt buckle segment and a tongue segment with the buckle sandwiched between the first and second portions. In one embodiment the latch bearing first portion side is recessed and a latching lug is formed within the recess; the latch bearing second portion side includes a latch for engaging the lug to close the box like device. When closed the recess forms a guide to the latch. The bottom of the recess is thickened to stiffen the latch bearing side and to position the seat belt buckle in the box like device. In operation the recess thickened bottom coacts with the box like device sides and seat belt buckle to rigidify the box and enhance the latching strength of the latch thereby making it difficult for a child to open the box like device and push the seat belt release button.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A seat belt buckle guard for a seat belt buckle having an exposed release mechanism comprising: in combination, a box like device having first and second housing portions;   the first and second housing portions each having a flat plate member and first and second pairs of opposing sides normal to the flat plate member, the flat plate members of the first and second housing portions forming front and back sides for the box like device, the first pair of opposing sides of the first and second housing portions having walls forming first and second opposing apertures therein, the second pair of opposing sides of the first and second housing portions each having corresponding first and second sides,   a strengthening means connected to at least one of said second sides for strengthening a portion thereof for a latching means:   a hinge means between the first sides for pivotally connecting the corresponding first sides of the second pair of opposing sides, said corresponding first sides and hinge forming a top for the box like device; and   a latching means operatively connected to the strengthened portion of the at least one of the said second sides for latching together the first and second housing portions to form a bottom for the box like device with the latching means thereon, whereby when a buckle of a segmented seat belt having the buckle and buckle tongue attached to the ends is placed in the first and second housing portions with the buckle end of the seat belt passing through the first aperture and the first and second housing portions closed and latched together the buckle including its release button is sandwiched in the box like device, positioned to engage the tongue end of the segmented seat belt when inserted through the second aperture, and coacts with the strengthening means to rigidify the box like device, and the latching means being attached to the bottom of the box like device is rendered difficult for child opening, and a seat belt buckle release mechanism is shielded from access.   
     
     
       2. A seat belt buckle guard according to claim 1 wherein the first and second housing portions of the box like device are of a plastic material and the hinge means is a plastic, convex shaped hinge formed integrally with the first and second housing portions. 
     
     
       3. A seat belt buckle guard according to claim 1 wherein the strengthening means for strengthening a portion of at least one of the second sides of the second pair of opposing sides of the first portion of the box like device includes a centrally disposed recess forming a brace for the first portion, whereby when the seat buckle is latched in the first and second housing portions, the buckle and recess coact with the first and second housing portions to enhance substantially a snap action of the latching means. 
     
     
       4. A seat buckle guard according to claim 1 wherein the first housing portion of the box like device has a depth substantially greater than the depth of the second housing portion and the strengthening means includes a centrally disposed recess and the latching means includes a latching lug formed in the recess and a latch formed on a corresponding side of the second housing portion, said latch adapted for engaging the latching lug for securing together the first and second housing portions whereby the latch means being on the bottom adjacent to the corresponding side of the second housing portion of the box like device the recess forms a guide to the latch during opening and closing. 
     
     
       5. A seat belt buckle guard according to claim 1 wherein the second side of the second pair of opposing sides of the first housing portion of the box like device includes a pair of spaced guides and the latching means includes a latching lug formed between the guides and a latch formed on the second side of the second pair of opposing sides of the second housing portion of the box like device, the latch operative for engaging the latching lug for securing together the first and second portions whereby the guides form a guide to the latch during opening and closing. 
     
     
       6. A seat belt buckle guard according to claim 1 wherein the first and second housing portions of the box like device are rectangularly shaped and the strengthening means includes a rib means formed in said first and second housing portion, contoured to support a correspondingly contoured seat belt buckle in alignment with the buckle tongue for connecting the buckle tongue and for coacting with the buckle and the first and second housing portions for rigidifying the box like device when closed by the latching means. 
     
     
       7. A seat belt buckle guard for a seat belt buckle having an exposed release mechanism comprising: in combination, a seat belt means including a segmented belt, a buckle and buckle tongue connected, respectively, to first and second ends of the segmented seat belt, and an exposed release mechanism connected to the buckle;   a flexible plastic box like means connected to the buckle for protecting the buckle's exposed release mechanism against unintentional actuation, said box like means having first and second portions, each portion including first and second pairs of opposing sides, the first pair of opposing sides of the first and second portions being shaped to form apertures for a portion of the seat belt adjacent to the buckle and for passing the tongue portion into the box like means for attachment to the buckle, the second pair of opposing sides each having first and second sides aligned to abut the first and second portions;   a hinge means connecting the first sides of the second pairs of opposing sides together for forming a pivotal top;   a seat belt buckle positioning means including an inwardly extending recess formed in a first one of the second sides of second pairs of opposing sides for coacting with the buckle for positioning the buckle within the box like means and providing rigidity to the first and second portions thereof; and   a latching means connected exteriorly of the second sides of the second pair of opposing sides for latching the first and second portions of the box like means together when closed, said latching means including a latching lug means mounted in the recess for receiving a latching means, and a latch means formed on the second one of the second pair of opposing sides, said latching lug means for retaining the latch within the recess for protection against unintentional opening of the box like means.   
     
     
       8. A seat belt buckle guard for a seat belt buckle having an exposed release mechanism comprising: in combination, a flexible box like device having first and second portions, said first and second portions having walls forming opposing first and second apertures adapted for receiving end portions of a segmented seat belt attached, respectively, to a buckle and buckle tongue, a hinged side means for pivotally connectng the first and second portions together at a first side, and an opposing latching side means for joining the first and second portions; and   rib means operatively connected to the first and second portions of the box like device normal to the first and second apertures and having contoured surfaces for forming a support for supporting a seat belt buckle in alignment with the first aperture whereby a seat belt buckle supported by the rib means is in alignment for connection to a seat belt buckle and for coacting with the seat belt buckle and with the first and second portions of the flexible box like device for forming a rigid seat belt buckle release guard which is difficult for a child to open and release the buckle.   
     
     
       9. A seat belt buckle guard for a segmented seat belt having a buckle carrying segment and corresponding buckle tongue carrying segment and a buckle with an exposed release mechanism comprising: in combination, means for forming a box like device having first and second portions having opposing side means forming first and second apertures for providing passages, respectively, for a belt of a seat belt buckle carrying segment and tongue of a seat belt tongue carrying segment;   a seat belt buckle positioning means integrally formed within the box like device for receiving and positioning a belt buckle segment with respect to the second aperture of the opposing side means apertured side for receiving a belt buckle tongue, said positioning means formed integrally with at least one of the first and second portions;   a convex hinge means for integrally connecting the first and second portions of the box like device; and   a latching means connected to sides of the first and second portions opposite the hinged sides of the first and second portions and adjacent to the buckle positioning means for securing the first and second portions of the box like device together, said latching means responsive to the seat belt buckle positioning means and belt buckle for enhancing the latching strength of the latching means.